ESA, Games Industry in for Big Changes

An anonymous reader writes to mention an EToyChest article with a bit of perspective on the departure of Doug Lowenstein from the Entertainment Software Association. Lowenstein, who helped to kickstart the group, was instrumental in the ESA's grown and continued well-being. Now that he's moved on a new gig, the article points out that the industry is in for some changes in the years ahead. From the article: "Doug Lowenstein, a man that Jack Thompson has likened on separate occasions to such delightful despots as Saddam Hussein and Hitler, has been the advocate de jour for the industry since he signed on in 1994. Refusing to directly engage firebrands like Thompson in televised debates, Mr. Lowenstein has a history of picking and choosing his battles. Where Thompson prefers to argue his position in front of cameras, Mr. Lowenstein fought his battles quietly, but persistently. Under his guidance, the game industry has undergone its biggest transformation; it's now expected to gross in the area of $12 billion worldwide, more than four times the business it was doing when he signed on. While one would hesitate to give Mr. Lowenstein credit for the industry's success, his steady hand has been instrumental in sidestepping many of the media landmines that we've come across on the way. "

Jack Thompson's nemesis?

[dreddnott]

So is the enemy of my enemy my friend, or what?

Not quite

[Daetrin]

So is the enemy of my enemy my friend, or what?

I believe that phrase is more aptly used in reference to people or organizations with whom you share no positive common ground except the shared emnity of a third party. Especially in cases where you would otherwise be in conflict with the group without the threat of the third party there to unite you.

In this particular case if you are opposed to Jack Thompson it is presumably because of your feelings about issues involving video games and/or free speech, i

postscript

[dreddnott]

Wikipedia [wikipedia.org] claims that Mr. Lowenstein is now "heading up" the newly-formed Private Equity Council [thestreet.com].

He seems like a nice guy, but I think he was just along for the ride, especially if what the article says about his non-interventionism is true.

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[drinkypoo]

So is the enemy of my enemy my friend, or what?

That's always been a dumb saying. The enemy of my enemy is my temporary ally at best.

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[KDR_11k]

Rule #29: The enemy of my enemy is my enemy's enemy. No more, no less.

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[Lectrik]

Rule #29 A: The Enemy of my Enemy is inside the kill circle of my thermonuclear device. Ergo the argument is null

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[KDR_11k]

Thermonuclear? Man, you're backwards. My epaulets have more yield than that!

Fils-Aime

[MeanderingMind]

Honestly, I can't agree with the article that he's the man for the job. Reggie's very good at talking trash, pumping up crowds, and being awesome. Basically, he's a good entertainer and businessman. However, these aren't the skills the ESA needs.

The ESA needs someone who is cool, but that's only one of many factors. It needs to be someone new, unaffiliated with any of the big 3, yet someone who can go toe to toe with politicians, the media and write off whackos like Jack Thompson skillfully.

Reggie's an interesting idea, but he's not the man for the job.

Reggie and alternative

[Yomic]

Later in the article it mentions Reggie of Nintendo to be the next best public speaker due to his vast amounts of charisma. He wouldn't be too bad of a choice to advocate the voices of gamers because that seems to be what Nintendo is about. It may piss of a few Microsoft and Playstation fanboys though :P

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[7Prime]

I think that regardless of his title, Reggie is destined to be the Steve Jobs of the game industry. That may not mean that he's an advocate for the industry as a whole, but having a charasmatic maskot like Fils-Aime does help to legitimize the industry in the minds of the public, which goes a long way towards stemming off assholes like Jack Thompson. Jobs and Fils-Aime are rockstars, and lawyers look really unattractive in the eyes of the public, standing beside rockstars.

ESA?

[the_arrow]

What does the European Space Agency have to do with games?

ESA Copyright infringement notification

[hyperwall]

So maybe my ISP won't receive another letter about making available copyrighted Xbox titles?

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[heinousjay]

That depends, have you stopped doing something so unequivocally wrong, or are you persisting in your illegal ways?

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[hyperwall]

Sticking to Blockbuster for game back up needs. Lego Star Wars II was totally worth it for a cease and desist notification. Other torrents still make me kind of nervous. That's what I get for trying not to be a leech!

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[Emetophobe]

I got a threatening email from my ISP & The ESA a few months ago. Basically I got caught red handed downloading a game via BitTorrent (was a torrent from TorrentSpy). But nothing ever happened to me, all they did was send my ISP a threatening email, which they forwarded to me.

I don't think I've tried to download a game since then, I rather play it safe for a while (I guess the ESA's tactics worked). I just stick to music now, since us Canadians already pay for our music through blank CD fees (RIAA can't

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[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

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[lymond01]

Congratulations, you've just killed a band

I don't know. There will come a time sooner or later where, because of the ease of electronic distribution, the marketing by the RIAA will be different. Heck, marketing will be different. Instead of always getting discovered and signed by an RIAA affiliate, you could get discovered and signed by any agency that wants to front the money thinking you may become a superstar. $10,000 for a recording, distributed relatively "free" through the Internet, and then it's

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[Emetophobe]

You raise a good point, but I don't listen to conventional bands that would fall under the RIAA's umbrella. I listen to DJ sets recorded from live events or via the radio (BBC Radio One for example). I listen to Anabolic Frolic for example, he has recently starting putting his entire collection online, for free, for everyone to enjoy.

Anabolic Frolic's myspace page [myspace.com]
Anabolic's Happy 2B Hardcore Chapters 1 to 7 [tesdallconsulting.net] (This is some of the best Happy Hardcore...ever)
Anabolic's Hullabaloo Collection [hulla.info] (Amazing collection

Godwined Already

[Lost Engineer]

Didn't even make it past the summary.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:What we need

[ElleyKitten]

Great idea, a speech that achieves nothing positive and only serves to alienate people you are trying to win over. OP provides a clear example of why geeks are seldom successful in the political realm.

Everything he said was factual and needs to be said. In fact, the only reason why it isn't is that games are a lot easier of a subject for politicians (and, well, everyone) than Iraq, than the economy, or any other important issue going on. Other than games, the Democrats basically have a platform of "Bush sucks". They agree that the Iraq war, the economy, insert issue here, is going terribly, they agree that it's Bush's fault, but what do they do about it? They talk about games instead.

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[SatanicPuppy]

It's not about being a geek, it's about taking a firm stand on the truth.

Ask Larry Flint if it's better to bow and scrape to people who will never stop being offended by what you sell, or instead take 'em to court and make them try to prove it against the Constitution?

It's either to draw a line and say, "This is the limit to the concessions we are going to make to placate your starchy prudishness. You can take responsibility for your own decisions, and watch out for the welfare of your own damn kids, instea

This is a Dup!

[xxxJonBoyxxx]

This is a Dup!
http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/12/19/ 164211 [slashdot.org]

Sorry, Slashdot. I didn't care about this last month and I still don't care this month.

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[Crysalim]

Parent post is a dupe. Of a dupe of a dupe of a dupe of a dupe of a dupe of a...